Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J H Olsen

Publications and source records attributed to J H Olsen.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cancer incidence and mortality in workers exposed to fluoride.

BACKGROUND: Although a recent bioassay showed increased frequency of bone cancer in rats with high oral intake of fluoride, the data are reported as equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity. In humans, occupational fluoride exposure may cause skeletal fluorosis, and our earlier follow-up of fluoride-exposed workers showed increased incidence of respiratory cancers. PURPOSE: To further evaluate occupational fluoride exposure as a carcinogenic risk factor, we extended by approximately one decade the follow-up of a cohort of 425 men and 97 women employed for at least 6 months in the period 1924-1961 at the Copenhagen cryolite processing plant. Cryolite ore contains about 50% fluoride. METHODS: Cancer mortality was determined for the period 1941-1989, and incidence for 1943-1987. For comparison, we used national mortality rates and cancer incidence rates for the Copenhagen area. RESULTS: Among the men, 300 deaths occurred; 223 were expected. Respiratory (lung and laryngeal) cancers and violent death were responsible for most of this excess; rates for mortality from cardiovascular disease were close to the rates expected. Of the 423 male workers, 119 developed cancers; 103.6 were expected. There was excess incidence of cancers of the lungs (35 men; standard incidence ratio [SIR] = 1.35), larynx (5 men; SIR = 2.29), and urinary bladder (17 men; SIR = 1.84). Maximum incidence occurred after 10-19 years of employment, but otherwise, no stable relationship between cancer incidence and duration of employment was observed. The incidence of respiratory and urinary cancers was particularly high in men less than 35 years old at first employment. Cancers in female workers were too few to allow detailed evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of respiratory cancers suggests that cigarette smoking was frequent in this cohort, despite the unremarkable cardiovascular mortality, but the disproportionate increase in the incidence of bladder cancer is difficult to explain by smoking habits alone. Because this industrial cohort was exposed to high concentrations of fluoride dust, heavy respiratory exposure to fluoride may have contributed to the increased cancer risk. If these workers inhaled a carcinogenic substance partly excreted in the urine, an increased incidence of respiratory and bladder cancers would not be inconceivable. IMPLICATION: The potential role of fluoride as a cause of bladder cancer needs to be explored.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Trends in childhood leukaemia in the Nordic countries in relation to fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain further information about the risks of childhood leukaemia after exposure to ionising radiation at low doses and low dose rates before or after birth or to the father's testes shortly before conception. DESIGN: Observational study of trends in incidence of childhood leukaemia in relation to estimated radiation exposures due to fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing during the 1950s and 1960s. SETTING: Nordic countries. SUBJECTS: Children aged under 15 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence rates of leukaemia by age at diagnosis, sex, country, and calendar year of diagnosis or year of birth; exposure category; relation between leukaemia and exposure for children aged 0-14 and 0-4 separately. RESULTS: During the high fallout period the average estimated dose equivalent to the fetal red bone marrow was around 140 mu Sv and the average annual testicular dose 140 mu Sv. There was little evidence of increased incidence of leukaemia among children born in these years. Doses to the red bone marrow of a child after birth were higher, and during the high exposure period children would have been subjected to an additional dose equivalent of around 1500 mu Sv, similar to doses received by children in several parts of central and eastern Europe owing to the Chernobyl accident and about 50% greater than the annual dose equivalent to the red bone marrow of a child from natural radiation. leukaemia incidence and red marrow dose was not related overall, but rates of leukaemia in the high exposure period were slightly higher than in the surrounding medium exposure period (relative risk for ages 0-14: 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.14; for ages 0-4: 1.11, 1.00 to 1.24). CONCLUSIONS: Current predicted risks of childhood leukaemia after exposure to radiation are not greatly underestimated for low dose rate exposures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Multiple myeloma among Danish women: employment history and workplace exposures.

To investigate the role of employment history and workplace exposures as risk factors for multiple myeloma among women, a population-based case-control study using the Danish Cancer Registry data linkage system was conducted. All cases of myeloma diagnosed in Danish women between 1970 and 1984 (1,010 cases) and 4,040 age-matched women alive at the time of case-diagnosis were identified. Industrial histories from 1964 forward were obtained from the nationwide Pension Fund for 363 cases and 1,517 controls, and the most recent occupation on the tax record was available for 607 cases and 2,596 controls. Using industry/occupational-code combinations for the cases and controls who had industry employment, Danish industrial hygienists assessed the likelihood of exposure to 47 workplace substances. An increased myeloma risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.2, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-1.5) was seen for women not in the Pension Fund, but who had an occupational title coded as 'Mrs/homemaker.' Nonsignificantly elevated risks of 1.3 or greater were observed for employment in: production of agricultural products; orchards/nurseries; spinning/weaving; other textile and plastics manufacturing; hotel, entertainment, and social services industries. Elevated, but nonsignificant risks were observed for possible and probable exposure to exhaust fumes, formaldehyde, wood dust, animals or animal products, and pesticides. The strongest association with myeloma was employment in the agricultural industry (OR = 1.5, CI = 0.8-2.8), however, the number of women who worked on family farms was unknown and could not be included in this risk estimate.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Occupational risk factors for multiple myeloma among Danish men.

A large population-based case-control study evaluated occupational exposures in 1,098 Danish males diagnosed with multiple myeloma from 1970 to 1984 and in 4,169 age- and gender-matched controls alive at the time of case-diagnosis. Industrial histories were obtained from the Supplementary Pension Fund which, since 1964, has recorded employments of adult Danes; occupation came from subjects' most recent tax records. Four industrial hygienists created a job-exposure matrix for 47 substances based on 15,000 unique industry/occupation combinations in subjects' histories. Risk of myeloma was significantly elevated among road and railroad workers, precision metalworkers, and workers in the transportation and communication industries. Risk increased significantly with duration of employment in: production of synthetic yarns, plastic packaging, and miscellaneous chemical compounds; fabricating structural metal and stationary tanks; body factories; electrical plants; and retail sale of paint and wallpaper. Risks of myeloma were elevated, though statistically nonsignificantly, in all categories of exposure to gasoline and engine exhausts. Risks rose with likelihood and duration of exposure to phthalates, and were statistically significant and nearly fivefold with probable exposure to vinyl chloride for five or more years. After adjusting for multiple exposures and disregarding exposures within 10 years of diagnosis (or selection as a control), probable exposure to vinyl chloride was associated with increased risk of myeloma, which rose to fivefold with longer exposure. Associations with gasoline, engine exhausts, and phthalates persisted, but were inconsistent with duration and probability of exposure. Previously reported associations with agriculture were not confirmed by these data.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Diuretics may increase risk of renal cell carcinoma.

The risk for kidney cancer was examined in a Danish cohort of 192,133 people on a hospital discharge register who had been given a diagnosis of hypertension, heart failure, or edema, and were presumed to be probable users of diuretics. The subjects were identified from 1977 to 1987 and followed-up for cancer through 1987. A total of 10,630 cancers was observed. While the risk for all cancers was increased slightly (standard mortality ratio [SMR] = 122, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 120-124), the risk for renal cell carcinoma was more than doubled (SMR(men) = 221, CI = 192-253; SMR(women) = 246, CI = 213-283). Increased risks were found in all age groups, and, although surveillance bias was present initially, the risk increased consistently in the years following discharge. Risk estimates for individuals discharged with hypertension were similar to those for the total cohort. Use of diuretics was validated in a random sample of 100 individuals. More than 70 percent were taking diuretics at the time of discharge. The increased risk for renal cell carcinoma in this cohort may indicate either that diuretics are involved in the etiology of renal cell carcinoma or that the risk can be attributed to confounders, including smoking, which affect risk for both the discharge diagnosis and renal cell carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Malignant tumors in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: There is strong epidemiologic evidence that psoriasis treatments may cause nonmelanoma skin cancer and possibly other types of cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study from Denmark reports the cancer incidence in 6910 patients with psoriasis discharged from the hospital from 1977 through 1987. METHODS: Patients were identified in the National Hospital Discharge Register and information on cases of cancer was obtained through the files of the Danish Cancer Registry; observed figures were compared with those expected on the basis of cancer incidence rates for the national population. RESULTS: A 2.5-fold increased risk was observed for nonmelanoma skin cancer in men and women, with no preponderance of any specific histologic subtype of cancer. In addition, excesses were seen of lung cancer in men (relative risk [RR] = 1.4) and women (RR = 1.6), of cancer of the larynx and pharynx in men (RR = 2.8 and 3.9), and of colon and kidney cancer in women (RR = 1.6 and 2.3). CONCLUSION: The effect of cigarette smoking on the risk for noncutaneous cancer could not be assessed in this study; however, antipsoriatic treatment such as ionizing radiation and oral arsenicals must be considered as a possible cause of colon cancer, which has been observed in excess in two other studies of psoriatic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Risk of kidney cancer in analgesics users.

The risk of kidney cancer was examined in a cohort of people discharged from Danish hospitals from 1977-1987 with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis or backpain. These individuals are presumably more or less regular users of mild analgesics. A total of 155,554 people were identified. The risk of cancer of the urinary tract was slightly increased [relative risk (RR) = 1.31], almost exclusively because of an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma (RR = 1.40). The relative risk was higher in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis than among individuals with osteoarthrosis or backpain, and higher among women than men. Although this study lacks information on the actual analgesics consumption of the individual, and various biases may be present, these findings offer little support to the concern that increased analgesics use raises the risk of kidney cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Lung cancer mortality among workers in the European production of man-made mineral fibers--a Poisson regression analysis.

One hundred and eighty-one lung cancer deaths among workers during 301,085 person-years in European man-made mineral fiber production between 1930-1955 and 1982 were analyzed according to Poisson regression models including age, calendar period, country, and exposure variables. Time since first employment was the variable most strongly associated with lung cancer risk in both the rock-slag wool and glass wool subcohorts. Workers in the early technological phase were at higher risk than those in other categories, particularly in rock-slag wool production. No clear trend with duration of employment was suggested. No major changes occurred in the interpretation of the results when workers with less than one year of employment or less than 20 years since first exposure were excluded. The original results, based on analyses for standardized mortality ratios, were confirmed, and workers with a short duration of employment or a short time since first employment did not need to be excluded from the analysis.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1992

Adverse pregnancy outcome and childhood malignancy with reference to paternal welding exposure.

Welding may deteriorate spermatogenesis and increase reproductive failures. This study examines reproductive end points in a Danish cohort of 10,059 metalworkers who fathered 3,569 children in 1973 through 1986. Occupational histories were gathered by postal questionnaires. Information on pregnancy outcomes and offspring was obtained by record linkage to medical registers. The occurrence of reduced birthweight, preterm delivery, infant mortality, and congenital malformation was not increased among children at risk from paternal welding exposure in comparison with children not at risk. The overall incidence of childhood malignancies among 23,264 children born in 1968 through 1986 with a total of 259,113 person-years of follow-up was equal to national rates (relative risk 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.63-1.42). However, pregnancies preceding a birth at risk from paternal exposure to stainless steel welding were more often terminated by spontaneous abortion (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.2). This finding needs cautious interpretation and should be further investigated in future studies.

Child↗
PubMed1991

[Tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter in Denmark in the period 1943-1986. Cancer statistics no. 28].

A review based on data from the Cancer Register reveals that the age-standardized incidence rate of tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter in Denmark has increased more than ten-fold where both men and women are concerned during the 40 year period from 1943 to 1982. A random control sample suggest underreporting of pelvic tumours of 8% and it is known from previous investigations that 95-98% of all known cases of tumour are registered in the Cancer Register. These circumstances suggest a greater increase in the incidence than that registered in the present article. Where tumours of the renal pelvis in men are concerned, however, the development was reversed in the middle of the nineteen seventies with a decrease in the incidence continuing to the conclusion of the period of this review in 1986. The decrease in tumours of the renal pelvis in men is observed particularly in the capital and in rural districts. A possible cause of this decrease is reduction of tobacco consumption in men. The incidence of tumours of the ureter in men is still increasing but the account is based on few observations. Possible reasons for the uninterrupted increase in incidence of tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter in women continuing until the conclusion of the period of registration is the increasing tobacco consumption which has been observed in women and consumption of phenacetin before this preparation was deleted from the drug register in Denmark.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Parental employment at time of conception and risk of cancer in offspring.

Studies on the possible association between exposures of parents at the time off conception and cancer in their offspring have provided no clear answer. In this large, population-based, record-linkage study, 1747 childhood cancer cases were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry and matched with 8630 population controls. Specific information on the employment held by each parent at the time of conception and during early pregnancy was obtained through record linkages. The most recent job titles of the parents were also supplied. Significantly increased risks for renal cancer (mainly Wilms' tumour) and for osteogenic and soft tissue sarcomas were observed in children in association with mothers' employment in medical and dental care, based on 15 observations and odds ratios (OR) of 2.5-4.0. The risk for cancers at all sites was significantly elevated in children of female nurses (OR = 1.4; n = 75) and of male and female physicians, dentists, dental assistants, veterinarians and pharmacists combined (OR = 1.4; n = 53). Handling of drugs, exposure to anaesthetics and infections during pregnancy are suggested to be potential risk factors. Significantly increased risks were also observed for children of fathers employed in the manufacture of iron and metal structures (OR = 2.2; n = 16), in machine repair workshops (OR = 2.8; n = 6), as machinists (OR = 1.6; n = 47) and as smiths (OR = 1.5; n = 28). The suggestion in earlier studies that exposures to hydrocarbons and lead are risk factors for childhood cancer could not be supported by our analysis. Overall, few associations were observed; it was therefore concluded that parental occupation is not likely to be a major risk factor for childhood cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cancer incidence following hospitalization for multiple sclerosis in Denmark.

Incidence of various cancers was evaluated in a cohort of 5359 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, identified through hospital discharge records between 1977 and 1987 and followed for an average of 5.2 years. Computerized linkage with the Danish Cancer Registry uncovered 210 cancer cases which was significantly more than expected based on national rates (relative risk (RR) = 1.29). Over half of the excess, however, was observed for non-melanoma skin cancer and tumors of the urinary tract, which may be related to increased medical surveillance among MS patients compared to the Danish population as a whole. There was a significant excess of nasopharyngeal carcinomas in the cohort (RR = 17.3), but based on only 3 cases and seen only among women. Hematologic and lymphatic malignancies were not increased, adding little support to previous suggestions of a possible association of these malignancies with MS. An excess of brain tumors, seen only in women, may represent situations where the tumor caused symptoms which were interpreted as MS. Overall, the data suggest that a patient with MS is not at unusual risk for subsequent cancer development, but the relatively short follow-up of the population is a limitation of the investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal cancer in Denmark 1943-1985.

In order to describe the incidence, distribution, and prognosis of neonatal cancer, 76 cases (44 boys, 32 girls) of cancer in the first 28 days of life were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry within the period 1943-1985. All cases were reevaluated and the International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O) code was applied. The incidence is calculated to 2.38 (1.88-2.98) cases per 100,000 births. The most common tumor was neuroblastoma (26%) followed by leukemias (16%), soft-tissue sarcomas (14%), and brain tumors (11%). The 5-year survival rate was 25% (15.1-39.0) with the highest survival rate among soft-tissue sarcomas (55%) and neuroblastomas (25%) and the lowest among leukemias and brain tumors (0). Eighteen percent of the cases were incidental findings. Two cases of secondary malignancy were identified.

Brain Neoplasms↗